David is a technology entrepreneur, having founded multiple successful technology companies. He also has over 35 years of experience in software engineering, developing complex systems, managing software development teams, and delivering products. He has conducted technical due diligence and business strategy assessments for venture capital firms and advanced technology start-ups. In 2013, he left the IT industry to follow his passion for space exploration. Mr. Hurst founded Orbital Transports to develop the space logistics and orbital infrastructure technologies needed for the emerging economy of space resources—and ultimately to support human settlement of the Solar System. David performs systems engineering and project management for small satellite space missions. He is a contributor to the INCOSE Space Systems Working Group CubeSat System Reference Model and develops MBSE practices for small satellite missions. As an advocate of space-related and space-scalable business, he founded and is the Executive Director of NewSpace Chicago, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to building the community of space entrepreneurs and others engaged in building commercial space ventures in Chicago and the Midwest region. Prior to Orbital Transports, David founded multiple successful technology companies, including Athena Security, a network security firm that was sold to Solar Winds in 2012, and Peritus Software Services, which went public in 1997 with the largest capitalization on the NASDAQ to that date. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Northwestern University, and has received four patents.

Jeff is a systems engineer, market researcher and business development strategist with over 40 years of experience in the NewSpace and Aerospace communities. He began as an IBM Systems Engineer, where his customers were NASA JSC and aerospace contractors. He established his space career in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area and founded the North Carolina Aero/Space Economic Development Project. Jeff served as Executive Director of the Space Frontier Foundation, a non-profit NewSpace advocacy organization and has been widely recognized for dramatically improving its professional impact, reputation, and operations. He also served as Director of the entrepreneur boot camp for the NewSpace Business Plan Competition. He was instrumental in creating and implementing a lobbying strategy to move the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004 through Congress, laying the regulatory foundation for the NewSpace industry. He has educated political, business and economic leaders about the entrepreneurial NewSpace industry. Jeff has an MS in Future Studies from the University of Houston.

Edward began his career as a Scottish Chartered Accountant with EY in London, gaining a strong foundation in finance and business strategy. He launched his first dot-com venture, then joined a UK banking group where he spearheaded the launch of their online channels. Edward moved to Accenture as part of the founding team for their outsourcing division. In this capacity, he advised both buyers and suppliers on structuring and managing complex outsourcing deals across industries. Edward then founded and led technology training businesses based in New York, helping organizations and professionals adapt to emerging technologies. Today, he focuses on driving growth strategies for B2B companies, leveraging his diverse experience across finance, technology, and business transformation to deliver results at scale. Edward has a BA in Economics from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland.

Nabil has extensive experience and knowledge of space mission development, small satellite supply chain and logistics, as well as mechanical and electrical engineering of spacecraft systems, subsystems, payloads, and instruments. At Orbital Transports, Mr. Boutaleb played a lead role in the creation of the SmallSat Catalog, and is instrumental in its ongoing operation, including developing its supplier base and cultivating the network of supplier partnerships behind it. Mr. Boutaleb has expansive knowledge of the small satellite supply chain and logistics, and leads the day-to-day operation of the SmallSat Catalog including processing of procurement inquiries and active management of the supplier network. He also leads delivery of logistics and supply chain management services, and contributes to smallsat mission development. He is a primary contributor to AISE and Mission Cloud, Orbital Transports’ MBSE mission development environments. Nabil is also a skilled user of MBSE tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler for systems engineering activities in mission development. His experience in modeling customer space missions includes the conversion of SysMLv1 graphical notation to SysMLv2 textual notation and creating methodologies to generate SysMLv2 models from document-based systems engineering artifacts, including NASA documents, technical papers, and technical reports. Nabil has an MS in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California, has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and is fluent in 4 languages.

Michael is a primary contributor to AISE and Mission Cloud, Orbital Transports’ MBSE mission development environments. He has developed product ontologies, mission models, and architectures that make use of products from the SmallSat Catalog. Product ontologies and models are used to develop the Catalog product database and support user discovery and evaluation. Mr. Weiss has contributed to SmallSat Catalog user interface development, ensuring that users have low-friction information and quote request flows, to increase user traffic and inquiries. Mr. Weiss utilizes Mission Cloud, the SmallSat Catalog database, and other mission development tools to manage the Orbital Transports’ Mission Services business, consistent with MBSE practices. Recent missions have afforded Michael the opportunity to develop enterprise-level mission management constructs, develop validation and verification models, streamline the trade space analysis process, develop common deliverable representations, and comprehend the value and challenges of efficient work product reuse within the Orbital Transports ecosystem. He has experience developing systems using SysMLv1 and v2. Mr. Weiss applied generative AI techniques to develop semantic search and classification of systems engineering work products, enabling efficient, easy reuse of systems models in new missions and contexts. Michael has a Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering and Entrepreneurship from Purdue University.

Charles  is the founder and principal of Mudd Law, a firm recognized internationally for its Internet and space focused litigation and transactional practice. For more than twenty years, Charles and his firm have represented clients with issues at the forefront of Internet technology. As a corollary to representing space law clients, he advocates developing inclusive and sustainable space policy. In this context, he has attended and spoken at United Nations conferences on Space Law and Policy; served on working groups for both SATCON and Dark & Quiet Skies conferences; provided testimony; and, filed comments on regulatory filings. He is a member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and has served on its Working Group on Light Pollution of the Night Sky from a Space law perspective. He also is a full member of the American Astronomical Society and served as co-chair of a Policy Working Group. Since 2017, Charles has continued his education at the University of Chicago. After being admitted to the Graduate Student-at-Large (GSAL) program, he completed graduate astrophysics classes which actually prompted his expansion into space law. In 2021, he was admitted to the University of Chicago’s Physical Sciences Division and began working toward a Masters of Science in Applied Data Science. He is a founding member of the Internet Law Leadership Summit; holds memberships in the AAS, AIAA, ECSL, IEEE, and, ITechLaw; and, serves on the board of NewSpace Chicago. He regularly speaks and teaches Internet and space law domestically and internationally. Currently, he also teaches Space Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law. Through his leadership, his firm has become a member of the International Astronautical Federation and the International Telecommunication Union.

 - 40+ years experience in hardware and software innovation
- Co-founded four companies with successful exits
- B.S. EECS, Northwestern University

- 40+ years experience advising space businesses
- Business development strategist
M.S. Future Studies, University of Houston

- 30+ years experience in business strategy and growth
- B.A. Economics, University of Strathclyde
- Qualified as Scottish Chartered Accountant (EY, London)

- 8 years experience
- M.S. Astronautical Engineering, University of Southern California

- 7 years experience
- B.S. Aerospace Engineering and Entrepreneurship, Purdue University

- 25+ years experience
- Thought leader in space law and policy
J.D. Law, Quinnipiac University School of Law